Q3 20 LONDON PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
STICK OR TWIST With so many twists and turns in the market for buyers and sellers alike, could now be the time to make the ultimate boom or bust decision?
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CONTENTS
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So far 2020 has been a year of incredible swings in the markets, property included. So the question is, what's left for the market this year and beyond?
Argentinian architects Hernan
From agents, to buyers and sellers,
Landolfo and Marcos Asa have extended an apartment in Buenos Aires with gorgeous results.
everyone in the property market has been dealing with market uncertainty, and that includes landlords too.
26 COUNTING SHEEP
32 SELLER’S GUIDE
Everyone loves sleep, so it only makes sense to have the perfect bed for your favourite activity.
The market's moving again and for some, it's time to make the most of it.
STICK OR TWIST
BUENOS AIRES
THE RIGHT AMOUNT
Highlighting recent renovations and refurbishments carried out by London's finest developers and designers.
10 BRIKOLAGE
16 ZONING SPACE Making best use of zoning your space requires some careful consideration. Rowena explains the best ways to go about it.
20 PRETTY LITTLE THINGS
22 BUYER’S GUIDE
29 HOME 2.0
The different stages of growing market and how to buy smart.
The world is getting more and more connected, in a good way!
36 PROPERTY GALLERY
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34 SHOWCASE
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CONTRIBUTORS
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JOSH WOODFIN Property Journalist
MARC DA SILVA Property Journalist
ROSS MURPHY Capricorn Financial
Josh Woodfin is a writer and editor with nearly 10 years' experience including credits with the Guardian, House, Esquire, and numerous other high-profile magazines and websites. His interests include antique maps, cooking with fish, and post-apocalyptic thrillers. He once beat Usain Bolt in a race... with an 80-metre head start.
Property journalist, Marc Da Silva, has an encyclopedic knowledge of all things property having written for a range of publications, including the Daily Mail, Daily Express, Sunday Business Post and A Place in the Sun, amongst others.
Ross is one of the Senior Advisers & Team Leaders with CFC, where he has worked since graduating from University of Manchester in 2010. Since 2014, Ross has been consistently ranked in the Top-2 Advisers in the UK by volume of lending PA.
KATE THORNTON Magenta Pink Interiors
VERONICA LUCEY Magenta Pink Interiors
ROWENA VAUGHAN RJV Designs
Kate Thornton is a partner at Magenta Pink Interiors. She formerly worked in a Barristers’ Chambers but having renovated several houses of her own decided to re-train and set up Magenta Pink Interiors in 2010 with friend and business partner Veronica Lucey.
Veronica Lucey is a partner at Magenta Pink Interiors, a Fulham based interior design studio. She previously worked in advertising but decided to follow her passion for interiors and changed careers in 2010 setting up Magenta Pink Interiors with friend and business partner Kate Thornton.
Rowena studied interior design at London’s prestigious Chelsea School of Art (UAL). She has over 20 years' experience refurbishing everything from a simple residential bathroom to the Crockfords Casino Mayfair.
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ligne-roset.com
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Ploum Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec Made in France
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PROPERTY MARKET
STICK OR TWIST The tide is turning from a seller’s, to a buyer’s market
WORDS
MARC DA SILVA Property Journalist
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In 2019, it was ‘climate strike’ that topped the list, but in 2020 they can choose from any number of new words and phrases that have entered the everyday lexicon, not just of people here in the UK, but around the world: Self-isolation, social-distancing, lockdown, unprecedented, viral-load, panicbuying, hoarding, toilet-paper, Stay Alert, Rule of Six…the list could go on, but these words will forever be tied to 2020 and beyond. From the first, seemingly distant, reports of the coronavirus outbreak
At the time of writing, over 900,000 people around the world have died of COVID-19, and millions more are living in various states of lockdown. In the UK, schools and businesses have reopened, but the new normal is still anything but, well, normal.
SALES COULD DECREASE BY 38%
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And while it may seem trivial in the face of such a vast, often terrifying, event, it’s important to carry on. For us, that means scrutinising the property market, discussing what has happened, what is happening and, if possible, thinking about what will happen. THE (STRANGEST) YEAR Following the Conservative victory in the December 2019 election (which feels like an extremely long time ago), the UK and London property markets were enjoying a wave of optimism. The Evening Standard reported that developers broke ground at 5,275 new home sites in the last quarter of 2019, up 12 per cent on the previous three months. Sales rose by a fifth to 5,684, the highest since the first quarter of 2018, while completions were up at 6,153. In the first quarter or 2020, it’s a very different story. In one of the first major pieces of analysis of the property market in the age of coronavirus, consultancy Knight
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hen the team at the Collins English Dictionary come together to decide on the 2020 Word of the Year, they’ll be spoiled for choice. But there will undoubtedly be a theme to the shortlist.
in Wuhan, China, in late December 2019, to the current, strange and difficult situation we find ourselves in now, the world has changed forever.
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CASINO 7
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CASINO 7
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REGISTERED HOUSE HUNTERS UP 30%
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ANNUAL HOUSE PRICES INCREASED BY 5.2%
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LONDON PRICES ROSE 2.3% YEAR-ON-YEAR IN DECEMBER
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88 PROSPECTIVE TENANTS PER LETTING AGENCY
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RENTS INCREASE HIT 42% IN JANUARY
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82% BELIEVE BUY-TO-LET TO BE A GOOD INVESTMENT
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PROPERTY MARKET
Frank predicted the number of house sales in the UK could fall from 1,175,000 last year to just 734,000 this year.
were rightfully concerned about what would happen if they struggle financially either due to illness or loss of work.
But as the Government launched various programmes to support people across the country, and the first easing of lockdown began, the landscape changed again. During the Summer months, interest in property in London and across the UK increased dramatically, reaching levels not seen since before the 2008 financial crisis.
In March, as part of a range of emergency legislation designed to assist multiple aspects of society, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, announced measures to protect renters affected by coronavirus, extending it several times. But, at the time of writing, this is due to end in October. Landlords were also offered a 3-month mortgage payment holiday where they have a Buy-to-Let mortgages and thousands of homeowners applied for mortgage holidays from their providers, too.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE With sweeping redundancies and companies furloughing (another word many people didn’t know before March 2020) large numbers of staff, people’s individual finances and the wider economy are a close second on the list of things to be concerned about. In the rental market, both renters and landlords
A STORM ON THE HORIZON The effects of lockdown have officially pushed the country into a recession. With the stamp duty holiday due to end in March, buyers and agents are hustling to get sales over the line. Mortgage lenders have also wrapped up some of their riskier products, while raising borrowing rates and strengthening lending criteria which will affect first time buyers needing large loans. The result of this? Some pretty bleak numbers from various institutions. According to a report released in September from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), for example, average house prices are forecast to be 13.8% lower in 2021 than in 2020. Neal Hudson, a UK housing analyst, told the i paper in September, “as these [support programmes and low cost mortgages] end,
ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL Between the reported numbers, the ongoing pandemic and the looming shadow of Brexit, the outlook doesn’t seem great. But it’s important to remember that the property market experience is extremely different depending on your situation. For example, the deprecation of the stamp duty holidays and the end of the furlough schemes are likely to affect those without existing property wealth, savings or money from family. While others will be able to shoulder some increased costs or losses. Our desires and habits are changing along with this unprecedented time. If the London exodus is real, it will increase demand in another market and create buying opportunities for some that would previously be out of reach. The answers are not easy to come by, and they may not be for a while. But there will always be positives amongst the negatives. Opportunities where once there were none. Whether you’re buying or selling, keep asking questions, stay informed and stay safe.
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According to a report from Halifax, UK house prices last month were 5.2% higher than the same period last year, the strongest annual growth since late 2016. While in London, data from the Land Registry recorded price increases in almost all London Boroughs, with Southwark, Merton, Hounslow, Lewisham and Richmond upon Thames all reporting monthly increases of more than 2%. Miles Shipside, Rightmove director and housing market analyst said in August: “There have been many changes as a result of the unprecedented pandemic, and these include a rewriting of the previously predictable seasonal rulebook for housing market activity and prices.”
the downwards pressure on the housing market will increase,” Hudson says. “There is also the uncertainty of what Brexit will bring. In the absence of a sustained and widespread economic recovery that would probably require a vaccine, 2021 could end up being the year the pandemic hits the housing market.”
NEWS & INTERESTS
BRIKOLAGE POETRY STORE ARCHITECTURE Shanghai, China Blending The Old with the New has long been our favourite topic. We love projects that respond to the challenge of restoring, re-using, re-organizing and re-purposing buildings that have a past. New is easy. But figuring out a respectful yet contemporary way to let historical buildings continue their lives takes sensitivity and creativity on a completely different scale.
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LYNETTE BOAKYE
STICK OR TWIST
TATE BRITAIN
ON THE COVER
18 November - 9 May 2021
So far 2020 has been a year of incredible swings in the markets, property included. January was a boom, lockdown a bust, then another boom in August as prices increased faster than any period since 2016 aided by the Stamp Duty holiday. Though what can we expect from the property market going forward? Likely more of the same as worse economic news filter out followed by a bust, a boom? Likely both. Remember though to keep your cool before making big decisionsin property it's the long term trend that's more important than the entry.
Widely considered to be one of the most important painters of her generation, Lynette YiadomBoakye is a British artist and writer acclaimed for her enigmatic portraits of fictitious people. This exhibition brings together over 80 paintings and works on paper from 2003 to the present day in the most extensive survey of the artist’s career to date.
NEWS & INTERESTS
BARBER AND OSGERBY PACKAGING / PRODUCT
Designers Barber and Osgerby have created the packaging for Jukes Cordialities, a non-alcoholic drink invented by their friend, the wine writer Matthew Jukes. Described as "top-flight, adult cordials assembled by the olfactory and sensory mastery of an expert wine taster," Jukes Cordialities is meant to offer an enjoyable and sophisticated alternative to alcohol for people on a night out. The packaging design is elaborate but recyclable, with a cube-shaped box opening up to reveal nine miniature bottles. Each bottle contains two or three servings of cordial that the drinker adds to water at an intensity to suit their own taste.
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The design is meant to encourage the ritual of self-pouring and appear attractive in a sophisticated bar environment.
PLAY : 5 SOUND
Sonos has a fantastic track record in delivering great speakers - and the second generation Play:5 sets yet another precedent. It has a subtle yet sophisticated design that we love, offers a brilliant app to connect to streaming services and all your music, among other great features such as capacitive touch controls.
INTERIOR & DESIGN
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INSPIRATION TRANSMISSION Buenos Aires HERNAN LANDOLFO & MARCOS ASA rgentinian architects Hernan Landolfo and Marcos Asa have extended an apartment in Buenos Aires and reorganised the living spaces around a double-height atrium with an olive tree growing in the centre. Landolfo and Asa were enlisted by his clients to expand their living space to include a home office. They determined that the best way to increase the useable area would be to
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enclose the volume defined by its courtyard, thereby adding a floor to the apartment. Visitors enter the 90-square-metre apartment via the double-height, glass-enclosed atrium, which was previously the open courtyard. This space centres around an olive tree. Landolfo said the tree and courtyard provide a visual connection between interior spaces.
INTERIOR & DESIGN
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LANDLORD’S GUIDE
THE RIGHT AMOUNT Geting the best price for your property
WORDS
JOSH WOODFIN Property Journalist
rom agents, to buyers and sellers, everyone in the property market has been dealing with market uncertainty, and that includes landlords too.
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Due to a range of government legislation - including a 3 per cent stamp-duty premium to the purchase of additional properties, the ban on tenant fee charges, to changes in taxes that mean landlords will only be able to claim 25% of finance costs, with the remaining 75% restricted to the
Rental prices in London have increased by 2.8% – the highest rate in the capital for almost four years – and providing the Brexit deal doesn’t prove too damaging, this will likely continue.
basic rate of taxation - becoming landlord or maintaining a rental business might feel like a less and less appealing prospect. But it’s still very much a going concern. The restrictions, along with six years of stagnant price growth mean the market has changed, with the number of rental properties on the market reducing, while demand increases. So, if you are a landlord, or are considering becoming one, you could benefit from the highdemand. See the data from our own rental department below: AVERAGE % OF ASKING RENT ACHIEVED
2016 : 94.5% 2017 : 97.8% 2018 : 98.4% 2019 : 99.2% 2020 (so far) : 100.3% In order to get the best price for your property, it’s crucial that you understand your market. And you agent should your first point of call on this front. So when you’re looking to price a property, make sure you get a least three valuations
from different agents, so you take a average or go for the agent with the most confidence in your property. Of course, the dream is to invest in a property and have it sitting in the background quietly generating profit. And while that isn’t out of the question, being a landlord invariably involves being a bit more hands on than you first expect. Richard Donnell, director of research at Zoopla, told the Financial Times earlier in the year, that the number of mortgaged investors buying in London is down more than 60 per cent compared with 2015. So, the landlords who do hold their own and weather the storm could stand to benefit. Mary-Anne Bowring, managing director at Ringley, told Property Wire in January, “rental prices in London have increased by 2.8% – the highest rate in the capital for almost four years. Rental growth has largely been driven by higher wages but there are already signs wage growth may be slowing. Lack of supply is also another factor, with many private landlords looking to
LANDLORD’S GUIDE
GROWTH IN RENTAL PRICES IN LONDON 12.5%
Rental growth annual percentage change
10%
7.5%
5%
2.5%
0%
15 2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Greater London Central London Developments Prime Central London
[2018-2022] Projected Source: www.statista.com
exit the market following tax and regulatory changes.� Like all aspects of the property market, being well prepared is always a bonus. Landlords who understand the market, stay on top of new, existing and prospective legislation, and are realistic about costs vs potential return, are much better placed to benefit from the cautious optimism surrounding the London rental market.
RENTAL PRICES IN LONDON HAVE INCREASED BY 2.8%
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-2.5%
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INTERIOR & DESIGN
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ZONING SPACE WORDS
ROWENA VAUGHAN RJV Designs
re you thinking of extending your home? Creating more space for your family now that you have all spent lockdown in one house for months on end. How to make best use of zoning your space requires some careful consideration. The architect Frank Lloyd Wright in
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the 1930’s was one of the first to advocate the idea of open plan living, basing the idea of the kitchen as hub and other spaces leading off it. Oen plan living has been around for a lot longer than that as the kitchen has always been the hub of any habitat. As an advocate of walls to reduce the competition of sounds I am not sure that open plan is always the best use of a space for a family. Fulham is full of classic knock-through double reception Victorian house, where the idea of a large warehouse style zoning is but a distant dream. However if you
do have a space which requires you to zone the area to visually differentiate the space, there are a few different ways of doing it from your own living eating space. Keep the colour scheme simple and use one colour to illustrate and area. Use a rug to outline the area on the floor. Use lighting to highlight the space. Pendants over a table for instance. Sliding glass doors that allow you to manipulate the space. This enables not only zoning but division when you need a separate ‘sound’ space. Divide the space using pieces of furniture.
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THE PALACE GARDENER
INTERIOR & DESIGN
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Use texture or wallpaper to indicate a different area within the room. In this time of COVID our house has had to work hard to accommodate all the different needs of a family. Play area, home schooling, office, sleeping, dining, living and if possible ‘alone space’. None of which is possible in open plan spaces. The use of clever planning, storage partitions and furniture can help with this. If you are thinking of doing work to your home, do not just the consider how you are living in it now, but how your children
will grow and how yours and their needs will change. Planning is the key to all good building work, and this is where a good architect and interior designer can help you. A professional can advise on the best way to use the space. Consider how you and your family use the space and advise you for the long term. It is cheaper to design on paper than to make expensive built mistakes.
INTERIOR & DESIGN
Responsive & Reliable Property Management
Ms E.E
What our 5-star service can do for you: One point of contact throughout | Direct contact with your property manager until 9pm Monday-Friday | Deal directly with your tenants Arrange all relevant safety certiďŹ cates | Excellent relationships with contractors | Regular property visits | Vacant management and secure key holding | 24 hour emergency out of hours maintenance company
4.8
(185)
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Hollie has been doing a great job in managing our property for us. She always responds very quickly and eďŹƒciently to emails and work on the property
INTERIOR & DESIGN
PRETTY LITTLE THINGS
20 brik.co.uk LITTLE PETRA ARMCHAIR £2,546 | madeindesign.co.uk TERRA.COTTO CASSEROLE POT £175 | conranshop.co.uk MONROE 3 SEATER SOFA £1,599 | westelm.co.uk ONE TABLE LIGHT £104 | trouva.com O-COLLECTION PLANTER £65 | amara.com
INTERIOR & DESIGN
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ADNET ALCANTARA MIRROR £730 | twentytwentyone.com TELA GLASS £15 | hauslondon.com WINTER RAINBOW CUSHION £29 | insidestoreldn.com SENTRY CHRONO WATCH £175 | nixon.com AMELIA MIDNIGHT LAMP £870 | luxdeco.com
BUYER’S GUIDE
SURF'S UP How to buy smart
WORDS
Josh Woodfin Property Journalist
ewind to January and the forecast for the property market was cautiously optimistic. In February, according to data from market analysts Molior London, developers broke ground at 5,275 new home sites in the capital in the last quarter of 2019, up 12% on the previous three months. And sales of new homes in London also rose by a fifth to 5,684, the highest since the first quarter of 2018, while completions were up at 6,153.
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The Telegraph reported that “experts are reporting ‘unprecedented’ levels of interest, with industry professionals forced to ‘stagger’ their clients and extend their waiting lists”. And The Week wrote ‘the biggest jump has been in the number of super-expensive prime London homes sold, while analysts LonRes, found that sales of homes in “prime fringe” areas, such as Clapham and Southwark, were also up by 28.4% year-on-year in January.’
And then, well, we all know what happened next. But as lockdown shifted and changed, the property market followed suit. In the summer – a traditionally quiet time of year usually – sales were up by 44% as buyers who were ready to move at the start of year rushed to purchase thanks to the stamp duty break and plenty of time to search.
Experts are reporting ‘unprecedented’ levels of interest, with industry professionals forced to ‘stagger’ their clients and extend their waiting lists. Data from Rightmove, reported in the Evening Standard, showed high demand continuing from July into August, with enquiries via the website rising 90% compared with the previous year and sales agreed were up 55 per cent. The announcement that we’re officially in a recession may have further encouraged buyers to hit the market. So, it’s all go, but for how long exactly is difficult to say. To
use a surfing analogy, you need to have confidence and commit to this wave. If you see something you like, and you’ve got the money, make a serious offer and try to wrap-up the deal as quickly and efficiently as you can. Because your chances of getting a better deal or price elsewhere will become slimmer and slimmer as time goes on. Better to offer a little over what you were hoping, to secure a deal and catch the market. Here’s a few more moves to consider. GET YOUR PAPERWORK IN ORDER The more prepared you are, from finance to mortgage offers, the faster you’ll be able to move. KNOW WHAT YOU WANT Understanding what you’re after in terms of a property will help you navigate the market too. Start your search early so you know a deal when you see it, and you won’t need to spend time doing due diligence on the property while more savvy buyers are putting offers in at the right level.
MAKE FRIENDS WITH YOUR AGENT And we’re not just saying that to make life easier for ourselves. London is busy, if you hadn’t noticed. So, if you talk with your agent regularly and build up rapport they will think of you first when they have something coming up that they know suits you and will call you first! LEARN TO COMPROMISE From that first shared house to your first property and beyond, the cold reality is that if you don’t learn to compromise, you’ll have a terrible time. But compromise is a sliding scale, it’s about being realistic and balancing your aspirations with the realities of the market.
Your best chance has most likely gone for now. Prices are at an all time high whilst buyer & seller expectations are at a disparity.
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BE DECISIVE If you make an offer and it’s accepted, pull up the drawbridge and protect you castle. Ask the agent to take the listing down from any portals it might be on. You never know who might swoop in with a bigger offer. And if you’re chain free or a cash buyer, use that to your advantage to secure your property over weaker buyers. Basically, it’s like Game of Thrones if they’d had conveyancers instead of swords.
SHALLOW WATER
BREAKER The make of break moment. Time to buy before you miss your chance to buy your dream at the best price.
SWELL
PEAKING Market activity is certainly reaching its current sumit. Activity is high, prices are rising steadily and stock is available.
Signs in the market show things are pikcing up. Nothing's for certain though clear predictions can be made off local statistics/ figures.
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Made in Britain, Built to Last www.roundhousedesign.com West End | Clapham | Fulham | Richmond | Cheltenham | Guildford telephone 020 7297 6220 | sales@roundhousedesign.com
FINANCE
CHOPPY WATERS WORDS
ROSS MURPHY
Capricorn Financial
OVID-19 has had a profound effect on the daily lives of almost every man, woman and child on the planet.
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Pre-COVID-19, it was commonplace for brokers to be able to secure a rather punchy ‘5x income multiple’ for their clients. Equally, lenders were willing to take up to 100% of annual bonus income into consideration for lending purposes providing there was a strong trackrecord of earnings! Post-COVID-19, lenders have systematically reduced their allowable ‘income multiples’ and it’s now rare to find Banks or Building Societies willing to accept more than 30% of annual bonus - a number of providers will no longer
Average two-year fixed rate (all products and LTV's
FIXED MORTAGE RATE ANALYSIS FROM MARCH TO SEPTEMBER 2020 MAR 2020
APR 2020
MAY 2020
JUN 2020
JUL 2020
AUG 2020
SEP 2020
2.43%
2.36%
2.09%
2.02%
1.99%
2.08%
2.24%
accept any ‘variable’ income for mortgage applications. Unfortunately, some of the recent changes in lender criteria and attitude to risk have impacted pipeline/submitted business! Notably, Barclays Bank took the rather unusual step of applying a ‘4.49x income multiple’ - previously they were willing to offer 5.5x to Premier Banking Customers - to all applications that had not progressed to full mortgage offer. As we sprint towards the colder-winter months, and the end of financial support via UK Government (October), it’s unlikely Banks & Building Socieites will be willing to relax their predictably cautious approach to underwriting criteria & lending-policy. Now more than ever, Brokers will be called-on by their clients wishing to secure finance for their Purchase or Remortgage. Make no mistake, the marketplace is unusually ‘choppy’ and having a Broker that understands how to navigate the current rough seas, will be worth its weight in gold.
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At home in the UK, teaching and learning has been placed on-pause for 6+ months, entire industries have been pushed to breaking point and almost 40% of the adult working population have been bankrolled by the Governments much talked-about ‘Furlough’ scheme. One consequence of the general uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, Global Pandemic & UK
Lockdown is that Banks & Building Societies have begun reassessing the level of ‘income’ they’re willing to take into consideration when calculating mortgage ‘affordability’.
INTERIOR & DESIGN
COUNTING SHEEP
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COMPILED BY
VERONICA LUCEY Magenta Pink Interiors
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DE LA ESPADA
DORMEO DIVAN
LOW FOUR POSTER
£4360 | heals.com
£1459 | landofbeds.co.uk
£549 | getlaidbeds.com
Designed by Matthew Hilton for De La Espada, the strikingly contemporary bed is defined by its angular headboard and upholstered body.
The Octaspring Tribrid mattress from Dormeo gives you a great option of combining traditional pocket springs, a generous layer of latex with the modern springs.
The cube-like shape is distinctive and catches the eye, keeping you grounded so you can make full use of the floor space around you at night and in the morning.
BONALDO BASKET
DYLAN BED
SQUARING DOUBLE
£3700 | gomodernfurniture.com
£3786 | denelli.co.uk
£2384 | fcilondon.co.uk
The Bonaldo Basket Alto super king bed by Mauro Lipparini has a luxurious wrap around head board & gently curved upholstered base.
Beautiful and innovative contemporary leather bed whose design imparts the illusion the bed is suspended in air.
The Squaring bed is a beautiful design. It is an insert bed that surrounds your mattress by the cushion.
ELVIRA TV BED
JAPAN BED FRAME
CHARLOTTE STUDDED
£1677 | wayfair.com
£859 | beliani.co.uk
This innovative state of the art media bed offers a multi speaker system to enhance your tv bed experience.
This sleek and minimalist low platform bed, inspired by Asian design, will simply transform any bedroom.
With its clean, straight lines and square shoulders, Charlotte adapts well to any setting – modern or retro, formal or casual.
ABBOTSFORD
ANDREW MARTIN
BRONTE BED
£999 | decur.com
£2650 | andrewmartin.com
£2020 | andsotobed.co.uk
Upholstered in a luxurious velvet, with stunning buttoned detailing and deep upholstery, the Abbotsford is an exquisite ‘winged’ bed.
This solid wood UK king size bed frame with opulent gold leaf eglomise detailing is reminiscent of antique styles, a modern take on the traditional button back bed.
A timeless classic brass bedstead available in a modern, black finish with either brass or nickel accents.
£1512 | loveyourhome.com
INTERIOR & DESIGN
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Template and fit of bespoke stone solutions
Featured Bathroom: Calcatta Oro slab 20mm Tel: 020 8871 1191 | www.marble-city.co.uk
GADGETS
HOME 2.0 The world is getting more and more connected, in a good way! So, sit back, wherever you are, and enjoy all the latest remote control gadgets for your home.
WORDS
JOSH WOODFIN Property Journalist
BRILLIANT SMART HOME SYSTEM This extremely stylish home interface is like something straight off the Starship Enterprise. Brilliant’s Smart Home System lets you control most home smart systems including Ecobee, Nest, Philips Hue, Ring, and Sonos, in one slick, central gadget. It even has built-in Amazon Alexa voice support.
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£349 | brilliant.tech
KASA SMART WI-FI POWER STRIP This extension lead (bear with us) is probably the most stealthily useful item on the list. Fully wifi connected and can be controlled from your phone, and with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Microsoft Cortana voice commands. Great for turning appliances off when you’re in a different room. Especially the kid’s games consoles... £29 | kasasmart.com
GADGETS
ECOBEE SWITCH+ Do you ever look at your light switches and think they’re not pulling their weight? Well not anymore… with the Ecobee Switch+, you light switches will be able to tell you the news headlines. Seriously. The Switch+ is embedded with Amazon Alexa and has all the same functions. It also works with Apple's HomeKit and Google Assistant. £99 | ecobee.com
TRAEGER IRONWOOD 650 Time for something a little tastier now. With Summer just around the corner(ish), it’s time to start thinking about the garden, and specifically, what you’re going to cook in it. Fuelled by hardwood pellets, the Wi-Fienabled Ironwood 650 can be used for barbecuing, roasting, and smoking. It’s easy to use, but suitable for experts too. And you can tweak the heat using
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your phone. £1299 | traegergrills.com
IROBOT ROOMBA I7+ Despite the name (the makers clearly never watched the film), this cheery little vacuum will quickly become one of the most valued members of your family. It’s got Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice control and adaptive camera-based navigation that cleans better as it learns your home's layout. It can also empty itself, which is useful and unsettling! £879 | irobot.com
HOTEL
Palazzo Daniele DESTINATIO N
Gagliano Del Capo, Puglia, Italy O RIGINAL
Francesco Petrucci and Gabriele Salini
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“For us, the art scene brings in a sophisticated crowd that wants to avoid five-star chains and experience new concepts of hospitality, one defined by art, design, history, and music.” The bold hospitality philosophy of Francesco Petrucci and Gabriele Salini, the Originals behind Palazzo Daniele, perfectly captures the unifying power of artistic spirits. At Design Hotels ™ , we believe in the power of creative expression. That’s why each of our more than 320 handpicked independent hotels reflects the ideas of a visionary who is raising the bar on design. designhotels.com
SELLER’S GUIDE
IT’S MOVING DAY The market's moving again and for some, it's time to make the most of it
WORDS
JOSH WOODFIN Property Journalist n some days over the last year, you might have though this day would never come. But it’s happening, demand has increased, and if you’re looking to sell a property, it’s time to get moving.
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32 brik.co.uk
A combination of buyers who were ready at the start of the year, Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s stamp duty holiday, and an abundance of time (for some) to look for properties means the market has been moving. However, now we’re officially in a recession, and with the possibility of large-scale unemployment on the horizon, plus the end of the stamp duty holiday set for end of March, property prices are expected to decrease. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has predicted that property prices could plummet by more than a fifth by the third quarter of 2021.
So, is now the right time to sell? Unfortunately, the answer is a cautious maybe. For some, it’s a great time to sell as London, and especially certain areas and types of property, will always be in demand. And the stamp duty holiday means there is a lot of interest from buyers. Mark Hayward, chief executive, National Association of Estate Agents Propertymark said: “Usually we would expect to see a lull in activity during the summer months.” An (NAEA) Propertymark housing report confirmed this, recording an average of 13 agreed sales per estate agent branch in July, the highest figure recorded since June 2007. Rightmove’s monthly house price index stated the number of sales agreed from mid-July to mid-August totalling more than £37 billion. But while the headlines about a London exodus might be unsettling, and there’s undoubtedly increased interest in properties outside of the capital, London is still resilient and will not become the ghost town some predict. While rural and
coastal areas have seen up to a 6.3% price increase, London has stayed flat. The slow market of the last few years brought house prices down to the extent that buyers can still (just) buy a house in Fulham for over £1m if they look around. Previously this was not possible. For example, there was a local property that was on the market at £1.15m for 9 months with no offer close to asking. It was agreed at £1m in December 2019, pre-election result. Subsequently it fell apart as the buyer was in a chain. It was relisted in February, and sold within two days off market for close to asking price.
But while the headlines about a London exodus might be unsettling, and there’s undoubtedly increased interest in properties outside of the capital,
SOME SIMPLE ADVICE FROM THE SALES TEAM AT BRIK, INCLUDES:
Be confident. Negotiate a little harder, but be reasonable about the price and find the balance. Often a buyer will pay a little more when pushed a little by the agent.
Don’t over-value your property by being too bullish, you’ll be in danger of missing the buyer demand for your home entirely and will make you house look stale.
Be frank and straight with buyers without playing games, this will help to instil more confidence in buyers potentially offering more.
COVID-SAFE SELLING TIPS: 33 brik.co.uk
Consider holding online viewings as a first move
Physical viewings can be arranged with interested buyers
Clean high-traffic areas (doors, windows, boilers etc) before and after viewings
Maintain a 2-meter distance from anyone not in your household
Chat with your agent or buyers outside if possible, or on the phone
Ideally, leave the house during viewings and ensure all parties are wearing masks
For more information, visit the Government’s website: www.gov.uk/guidance/governmentadvice-on-home-moving-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak
SHOWCASE
34 brik.co.uk
WINCHENDON ROAD Full Refurbishments / Hand Built Staircase / Prewired Cinema Room A comprehensive ‘back to bricks’ reconstruction completed in a painstaking year long restoration. Hand finished parquet floors, hand built staircases and joinery are included with prewiring for speakers and a Dolby Atmos cinema room. High quality tiling and finishing throughout, this home has been executed with great skill & attention to detail.
BUILDGURU
buildguru.co.uk
SHOWCASE
35 brik.co.uk
DONERAILE STREET House Refurbishment / Architectural Design / Garden Transformation An exquisite back garden transformation in the highly sought-after alphabet streets featuring cedar slat surround and outdoor fire perfect for enjoyment all year round. No landscape designer required - a successful client/RG Build collaboration.
RG BUILD LTD
rgbuild.uk
36 brik.co.uk
WINCHENDON ROAD An outstanding, fully extended Victorian family home, finished to the highest specification and located just off Fulham Road in a prime spot close to Parsons Green.
37 brik.co.uk
38 brik.co.uk
This property has been subject to a comprehensive ‘back to bricks’ reconstruction over a year in the making. Arranged over four floors and extending to almost 2,800 sq ft (258 sq m), both the living space and bedrooms have been well implemented and balanced in a sublime way. On the basement level there is a large, prewired family/media room with a Dolby Atmos cinema system. There is also a good sized double bedroom with built in storage and floor to ceiling windows, a separate shower room and utility room with integrated appliances.
5 Bed
2,776
£2,895,000
HOUSE
SQ FT
FOR SALE
39 brik.co.uk
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41 brik.co.uk
BROOMHOUSE ROAD The house has been fully refurbished and extended by the current owner, to an incredibly high standard and is arranged over four floors. It extends to almost 2,900 sq ft (267 sq m) with five/six bedrooms, four bathrooms (three of which are ensuite), cinema room and separate utility room. The ground floor offers a superb open plan living space, with a hand built Italian bespoke kitchen.
5 Bed
2,874
ÂŁ2,795,000
HOUSE
SQ FT
UNDER OFFER
42 brik.co.uk
CONIGER ROAD The property offers 2,766 sq ft (257 sq m) of living space set over four floors. On the ground floor is a bright double reception room, open plan kitchen dining room with bifold doors onto the garden and a W.C. On the basement level is an open plan reception space with built in storage.
5 Bed
2,766
ÂŁ2,750,000
HOUSE
SQ FT
FOR SALE
43 brik.co.uk
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45 brik.co.uk
ELTHIRON ROAD Arranged over four floors, this large period property extending to 2,400 sq ft (223 sq m), offering superb reception and entertaining space in the heart of Parsons Green. The basement level (with high ceilings) comprises of a family/media room, which can also lend itself to a good sized bedroom with an en-suite shower room.
5 Bed
2,400
ÂŁ2,750,000
HOUSE
SQ FT
FOR SALE
46 brik.co.uk
WHITTINGSTALL ROAD
6 Bed HOUSE
This substantial family home is currently arranged over four floors spanning a total of just over 2,800 sq ft (260 sq m). This unique house currently comprises 6 bedrooms and is full of period features. On the ground floor there is a sizeable kitchen and dining room with wood flooring at the front of the house, leading through to a 21’5’ x 18’8’ reception room, with doors leading out onto a private garden.
2,802 SQ FT
£2,695,000 FOR SALE
G I L E S - G A S . CO. U K
BESPOKE BATHROOMS
BOILER CARE
PLUMBING & HEATING
47
At Giles Gas & Plumbing we pride ourselves on our high customer satisfaction ratings. We work hard to communicate with our customers from start to finish on all jobs.
Lewis was fantastic throughout. Couldn’t recommend him highly enough. Clean, efficient and work was completed to a high standard. “ Mr R. Bell
Kingston upon Thames KT2, UK
brik.co.uk
020 3814 0270 | info@giles-gas.co.uk
48 brik.co.uk
FILMER ROAD
4 Bed HOUSE
Arranged over four floors and extending to in excess of 2,000 sq ft (193 sq m). This family home is in a great location, close to Fulham Road and only a short walk from Parsons Green. These row of houses are wider than average compared with typical Fulham houses of comparable size, offering generous room sizes, high ceilings and large sash windows.
2,078 SQ FT
ÂŁ1,895,000 UNDER OFFER
49 brik.co.uk
CRISTOWE ROAD
4 Bed HOUSE
On the first floor is the master bedroom with generous built in storage and an en suite bathroom with separate bath and shower, to the rear is a double bedroom. On the second floor are two further bedrooms, a bathroom and eaves storage. The house is presented in good condition and offers the potential to add a front mansard to increase the space on the top floor as well as to extend the cellar, subject to planning permission.
1,776 SQ FT
ÂŁ1,850,000 FOR SALE
50 brik.co.uk
DANEHURST STREET This superb end of terrace, purpose built Victorian property, extends to just under 1,150 sq ft (106 sq m) and benefits from having its own entrance. The property has been restructured internally to create a fantastic gallery style mezzanine kitchen. This open plan layout is extremely popular and maximises the feeling of space with a double height ceiling in the reception room.
2 Bed
1,145
ÂŁ995,000
FLAT
SQ FT
FOR SALE
51
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52 brik.co.uk
WARDO AVENUE
2 Bed FLAT
This property is presented in beautiful condition and benefits from its own front door and a private south-facing garden. The property provides well balanced accommodation throughout and comprises; a spacious double bedroom, a large bath and shower-room with underfloor heating, and a storage cupboard housing the utilities.
1,008 SQ FT
ÂŁ925,000 FOR SALE
53 brik.co.uk
SHERBROOKE ROAD
2 Bed FLAT
The majority of the ground floor is given over to the fantastic open-plan reception/kitchen space. The bespoke L-shaped kitchen boasts a vast range of low level cabinets and integrated appliances, completed with a clean white composite stone countertop. Along with the kitchen space, plenty of room is given over to both dining and relaxing.
824 SQ FT
ÂŁ825,000 FOR SALE
54 brik.co.uk
ELLERBY STREET An outstanding and rarely available detached seven bedroom Victorian family home to rent. An outstanding and rarely available detached Victorian family home. Finished to high specification and located in the desirable Bishop's Park area. Arranged over four floors and extending to over 4,000 sq ft, the bedrooms and living space have been balanced perfectly, offering excellent space and natural light.
7 Bed
4,234
TO LET
HOUSE
SQ FT
ÂŁ2,300 PER WEEK
55 brik.co.uk
56 brik.co.uk
NARBOROUGH STREET
6 Bed HOUSE
Two houses knocked into one and arranged over three floors offering generous living and entertainment space, which includes a fantastic dining room and a generous garden extending approximately 30ft. The property further comprises a spacious double reception room, bright kitchen with breakfast area and an AGA, study, utility room, five double bedrooms all en suite, separate cloakroom and large family room.
3,378 SQ FT
LET 2020
57 brik.co.uk
NOVELLO STREET
4 Bed HOUSE
The ground floor has an open plan layout with a reception room which leads through to a modern kitchen fitted. There are bi-folding doors which open out onto a secluded low maintenance garden. On the first floor there is an elegant master bedroom with ample storage, and a stunning en-suite bathroom, a further double bedroom and a family bathroom. On the top floor there is a further two bedrooms and large bathroom.
1,426 SQ FT
TO LET ÂŁ1,153 PER WEEK
58
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59 brik.co.uk
BRADBOURNE STREET The property has been fully refurbished by the current owner to an incredibly high standard throughout and extends to nearly 1,300 square feet (121 sq m). There is a large open plan kitchen and reception room on the first floor with parquet flooring and plenty of natural light. There’s also a bathroom and a bedroom on this floor with an additional two further bedrooms and two bathrooms (one ensuite) on the floor above.
3 Bed
1,293
LET
HOUSE
SQ FT
2020
60 brik.co.uk
SALISBURY MEWS
3 Bed HOUSE
A well-presented and modern end of terrace mews house with two double bedrooms, one single bedroom / home office all with en suite bathrooms, located in a secure development with off-street parking very close to the popular 'Villes' area in Fulham. Split over three floors this house has a light and airy feel about it, along with wooden flooring, underfloor heating and double-glazed windows throughout.
1,446 SQ FT
TO LET ÂŁ807 PER WEEK
61 brik.co.uk
BISHOPS ROAD
2 Bed FLAT
The property consists of a living room at the front of the property and to the rear an open plan kitchen / living room leading to double doors onto the patio garden. The family bathroom is located on the ground floor. Both bedrooms are located on the first floor and in the master bedroom there is an en-suite shower room.
1,001 SQ FT
LET 2020
62 brik.co.uk
CAWTHORN APARTMENT
2 Bed FLAT
This apartment comprises of a large open plan living space, with a kitchen featuring a Siemens multi function oven, microwave combination oven and induction hob. Off the hallway there are two double bedrooms, one with en-suite and a further bathroom. There is plenty of built in storage.
825 SQ FT
TO LET ÂŁ600 PER WEEK
63 brik.co.uk
BOWERDEAN STREET
2 Bed FLAT
The ground floor features a superb double reception room, with excellent ceiling height and plenty of period features including two fireplaces, large original sash windows and exposed wood flooring. The reception space can be closed off with folding doors to offer a more flexible living space.
955 SQ FT
TO LET ÂŁ595 PCM
64 brik.co.uk
DOLPHIN HOUSE
2 Bed FLAT
XResidents benefit from lift access, 24-hour concierge, a gym and selection of restaurants. Situated on the seventh floor, the property comprises of an open plan reception room with a modern kitchen and integrated appliances. The master bedroom has direct access onto a private balcony, plenty of built in storage and a stylish en suite shower room. The second bedroom offers excellent light and has further built in storage with access onto the balcony.
982 SQ FT
TO LET ÂŁ550 PER WEEK
65 brik.co.uk
FULHAM ROAD
1 Bed FLAT
This second floor flat apartment is finished to a high standard and works perfect for a single professional or a professional couple looking to live in Fulham. Located on the corner of Fulham Road and Parsons Green Lane this apartment is located in a fantastic area, close to the restaurants, cafĂŠs and shops. The nearest tube is Parsons Green underground station, (District Line, Zone 2) only a short walk away.
400 SQ FT
TO LET ÂŁ400 PER WEEK
DIRECTORY Looking for something? Look no further with our recommended suppliers directory, just mention where you found them.
ARCHITECTS DBLO dblo.co.uk 020 7610 9333 227a Stephendale Road London SW6 2PR Emergent Design Studios ed-studios.com 020 7713 0056 51 Calthorpe Street London WC1X 0HH Hogarth hogartharchitects.co.uk 020 7381 3409 186 Dawes Road London SW6 7RQ
66 brik.co.uk
Icon icon-architects.com 020 7731 0400 The Glass House 11 Lettice Street London SW6 4EH Simon Gill simongillarchitects.co.uk 020 7610 9344 Riverbank House 1 Putney Bridge Approach London SW6 3JD
BUILDERS Blaze & Co. blazeandco.co.uk 020 7373 2214 Flat 2 111 Drayton Gardens London SW10 9QU Design 2 Finish design2finish.co.uk 07968 821 1667 54 Chipstead Street London SW6 3SS
Giles Gas & Plumbing giles-gas.co.uk 020 3814 0270 NU Builds nubuilds.com 0207 7316841 10 Fulham High Street London SW6 4LZ Nuspace I-want-nuspace.co.uk 0203 405 3480 965 Fulham Road London SW6 5JJ Pascal Huser huser.co.uk 020 7381 0707 600 Fulham Road London SW6 5PA Paterson Wood patersonwood.co.uk 0207 371 7327 Roxburgh Construction roxburghconstruction.co.uk 020 7731 7480 74 The Arches Ranelagh Gardens London SW6 3UB Uber Contracts ubercontracts.co.uk 020 3151 5034
INTERIOR DESIGN Magenta Pink magentapinkinteriors.co.uk 07956 884 437 RJV Designs rjvdesigns.co.uk 020 7385 6009 126 Harbord St London SW6 6PH
SURVEYORS
SOLICITORS
Capital Chartered capitalchartered.co.uk 020 8875 0035 Argyll House All Saints Passage London SW18 1EP
Child & Child (Mo Hakim) childandchild.co.uk 020 7235 8000 4 Grosvenor Place London SW1X 7HJ
Mactaggart Speir & Watson Surveyors mswsurveyors.co.uk 020 7183 3415 Centenary House The Queen’s Club Palliser Road West Kensington London W14 9EQ
Healys Solicitors (Jane Baker) healys.com 020 7822 4000 Atrium Court 15-17 Jockey’s Fields London WC1R 4QR
LEASEHOLD ADVICE Capital Leasehold capitalchartered.co.uk 020 7112 5169 64 Knightsbridge London SW1X 7JF
MORTGAGE BROKERS Alistair Hargreaves johncharcol.co.uk 0207 933 9651 5th Floor Cutlers Exchange 123 Houndsditch London EC3A 7BU Ross Murphy capricornfinancial.co.uk 0203 1110 942 1 Queen Caroline Sreet Hammersmith, London W6 9YN
The Partnership Ltd (Danielle Guettier) theparnershiplimited.com 020 7046 6558 1 Westminster Bridge Road London, SW1 7XW Judge Sykes Frixou (Belinda Frixou) jsf-law.co.uk 020 7395 3355 23 Kingsway London WC2B 6YF Morrisons Solicitors (Kulbir Conner) morrlaw.com 01483 215 019 2nd Floor, Cleary Court 169 Church Street East Woking, GU21 6HJ
ADDITIONS Please contact us if you would like to add your business to this directory. Email hello@brik.co.uk.
GET IN TOUCH We believe We started Brik to challenge the status quo. Our reputation over the years has continued to grow by delivering record-breaking prices alongside quick sales and lets with minimum fuss. Our formula is simple; sound advice plus a friendly approach equals great results.
Meet our Fulham team
67 CHRIS Co-founder chris@brik.co.uk
BEN Co-founder ben@brik.co.uk
JAMES Director james@brik.co.uk
NICK Lettings Manager nick@brik.co.uk
SAMIA Lettings Associate samia@brik.co.uk
RONYA Lettings Associate ronya@brik.co.uk
CHRIS Brand Manager cwatts@brik.co.uk
MATHEW Senior Sales Associate mathew@brik.co.uk
HOLLIE Property Manager hollie@brik.co.uk
CHRIS Sales Associate chrish@brik.co.uk
DIANA Accounts Administrator diana@brik.co.uk
SALES: 020 7384 6790 | LETTINGS & MANAGEMENT: 020 7384 6791 EMAIL: hello@brik.co.uk | FACEBOOK: Brik | TWITTER: @BrikLondon | INSTAGRAM: brik_london ADDRESS: 77 Parsons Green Lane, Fulham, London SW6 4JA
Contact us for a free valuation: 020 7384 6790 | brik.co.uk
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